Apparatus for the manufacture of tubular articles of confectionery



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0.3; GARDINER. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBULAR ARTICLES OF A GONFEGTIONERY. No. 478,279. Patented July 5, 1892.

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APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBULAR ARTICLES 0F GONPBGTIONBRY.

No.478,279'. I PatelitedJuly 5,1892.

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Juan (g6 NITEI STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLEMENT E. GARDINER, OF HEMPSTEAD, NETV YORK.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TUBULAR ARTICLES 0F CONFECTIONERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 478,279, dated July 5, 1892.

Application filed January 20, 1892. Serial No. 418,672- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knowncthat I, CLEMENT E. Grammar of I-Iempstead, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Tubular Articles of Confectionery and for Similar Purposes, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention has reference to the production of tubular articles-such as candies and other confectioneryby forcing the plastic mass from a reservoir or receptacle through a suitable die-orifice, as in the well-known maccaroni-machine. It is applicable generally to the production of tubular articles from plastic material, such as clay, soap, and the like.

In machines of this type the compression of the material is generally effected by a reciproeating plunger; but a screw has been used in place of a plunger, so that the operation may be continuous.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ a screw with threads of varying pitch, the threads at the lower part being closer to gether than those at the top of the screw.

Beneath the screw is a tapering mouthpiece, and between this and the body of the receptacle I interpose a perforated or recticulatcd diaphragm, (such as wire-oloth,) whereby the material is strained and rendered of uniform consistency, and is also distributed with uniformity through the area of the mouthpiece.

In operating with some materialssuch as above specitieclthe atmospheric pressure around the tube as it issues from the die-orifice tends to compress or distort the tube, and this tendency to collapsing is proportional to the softness and pliability of the material being worked. To overcome this difliculty, the center of each die-orifice is occupied by a hollow tube, the other end of which is in open communication with the atmosphere, so that at the moment of issuing from the die the atmospheric pressure is equalized on both sides of the tube. In carrying out this part of the invention the die-plate is preferably located on the side of the mouthpiece instead of at the lower end thereof, and the air-tube is carried across and through the walls of the.

mouthpiece, one end lying in the center of the die-orifice and the other projectinga suitable distance through the opposite side of the mouthpiece. There will of course be one airtubefor each die-orifice, and these individual tubes may each be open to the atmosphere or may be connected with a common air-pipe, as maybe most convenient.

For certain purposes it is desirable to connect with the air-tube means-suoh as a pump-for applying air under pressure through the air-tube. By this means the tube as it is formed may be expanded more or less, and by applying the pressure regularly or intermittently a variety of novel shapes can be produced. For instance, by varyingthe pressurethatis,increasing and then diminishing it graduallyl have produced hollow articles having an oval shape.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated one form of apparatus embodying the invention.

Figure I is an elevation of the machine. Fig. II is a vertical section of the cylinder. Fig. III is a side elevation of the die-plate, and Fig. IV is a horizontal section through the mouthpiece.

A is an upright cylinder, in which is a closefitting screw 13, which receives a rotary motion from shaft 0 through the bevel-gear a. The pitch of the screw-thread is, as shown, much greater at the upper than at the lower end. To the lower end of the cylinder A is bolted the tapering extension D, and between the parts A and D is placed the reticulated dia phragm E, the latter being directly beneath the lower end of the screw B. The mouthpiece F is bolted to the lower end of extension D, forming a continuation thereof. As shown, one side of this mouthpiece is vertical, while the opposite side is inclined. The die-plate G, Fig. III, is attached to theinclined side of the mouthpiece. It is provided with any suitable number of die-orifices g of the size and configuration which it is desired to impart to the tubular article. The air-tubes H, one for each orifice, pass in a direction substantially horizontal through the mouthpiece corresponding die-orifice, while the other is F, one end terminating in the center of the open to the atmosphere or is connected with an air-forcing apparatus, such as a pump I. 7

(Shown in Fig. II.) Beneath the mouthpiece F is an endless traveling apron K, which is moved at a proper speed to carry away the tubular articles or forms as they issue from the die-orifices.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood. A proper supply of the material to be shaped into tubes is fed into the mouth of the cylinder A and is carried down by the screw, rapidly at first and then more slowly. but with greater force as the threads of slight pitch act upon it. lution of the screw forces the material through the strainer E. The extension D and mouthpiece F become filled, and as the screw contiuues to operate theplastic material is forced through the die-orifices. It is obvious that with many materials the end of the tube as it is made, unless kept open, would collapse; but this is prevented by the internal pressure of air supplied by the air-tube H. The mold ed articles, now in the form of hollow rods or sticks, are delivered upon trays or boards carried by the apron K,and, being removed therefrom, arecut into suitable lengths, dried, and finished in a manner appropriate to the particular material under treatment.

While in order to obtain the best results it is preferred to use the invention as a whole, it is obvious that parts thereof may be used separately and that modifications may be made in details of construction and arrangement.

Having now fully described my said invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is--- 1. In a machine for forming hollow articles The last convofrom plastic materials, the combination of the 40 tends beyond the wall of the cylinder, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the cylinder having a contracted mouthpiece forming itslower end, a die-plate with an orifice or orifices on one side of said mouthpiece, and air-tubes, one extending from the center of each orifice through the opposite side of the mouthpiece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the cylinder provided with a die-orifice, an air-tube having its endin the center of said die-orifice, and means, such as an air-pump, for supplying air under pressure through said tube,s.ubstantially as described.

4. A machine for forming hollow articles from plastic materials, said machine comprising, in combination, the cylinder or receptacle, the feed-screw, the taperingextension beneath the feed-screw, the diaphragm between the cylinder and extension, the mouthpiece having a die-plate, and the airtubes extending through the mouthpiece and terminating one in each die-orifice, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLEMENT E. GARDINER.

Witnesses:

E. S. COLLINS, A. K. GARDINER. 

